George Vecsey Livres

The book explores compelling themes of resilience and personal growth through the journey of its protagonist, who faces significant challenges and transformations. Set against a backdrop of societal issues, it delves into the complexities of human relationships and the quest for identity. The narrative is rich with emotional depth and offers readers a thought-provoking perspective on overcoming adversity. With its engaging storytelling and relatable characters, it resonates with a wide audience, making it a standout in contemporary literature.

One of the great bards of America's Grand Old Game gives a rousing account of baseball, from its pre-Republic roots to the present day. Vecsey casts a fresh eye on the sport, illuminates its foibles and triumphs, and makes a classic story seem refreshingly new. This book is a narrative of America's can-do spirit, in which stalwart immigrants could transplant cricket and rounders in the fertile American culture and die-hard unionist players could later become the tightfisted avatars of the game's big-money establishment. It's a celebration of champions and underdogs. But most of all, it is a testament to the unbreakable bond between our nation's pastime and the fans, who've remained loyal through the fifty-year-long interdict on black athletes, the Black Sox scandal, franchise relocation, and the use of performance-enhancing drugs by some major stars.--From publisher description.

Depicts the personal life of Martina Navratilova and describes her struggle to achieve success as a tennis player

The only book of its kind, Tennis and the Meaning of Life is a resplendent collection of the best fiction (and poetry) written about this extraordinary sport/obsession. Contributors include Ellen Gilchrist, J.P. Donleavy, Barry Hannah, Ring Lardner, Somerset Maugham, William Trevor, E.B. White, Irwin Shaw, Wallace Stegner, and many others.

Exploring the intersection of sport and culture, this book offers a humorous and insightful look at the spectacle of the World Cup. It delves into the pomp and glory surrounding the event, celebrating its entertainment value while providing thoughtful commentary on its broader cultural significance. Through a blend of anecdotes and analysis, it captures the essence of this global phenomenon and its impact on fans and nations alike.

Born in 1935 into abject poverty, married at age thirteen, and a grandmother by age twenty-nine, Loretta Lynn went on to become one of the most prolific and influential singers in modern country music. The first woman to be named the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year, Lynn boasts sixteen #1 singles, fifteen #1 albums, and sixty other hits including “Honky Tonk Girl,” “Before I'm Over You, “ “The Pill,” and “After the Fire Is Gone. “ Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter, a bestseller and the basis of the Oscar-winning film, is the intimate, revealing story of her journey from eastern Kentucky to Nashville to stardom to legend—told in her own voice, which rings as clear, natural, and powerful as the best of her songs.

Hij overleefde negentien afgrijselijke jaren in een Chinees strafkamp, ontkwam naar de Verenigde Staten en reisde vijf keer undercover terug om de misstanden in de Chinese kampen - van dwangarbeid tot organenhandel - aan de kaak te stellen. De acties hadden succes. Toen hij in juni 1995 aan de Chinese grens werd gearresteerd was dat wereldnieuws. In maart 1996 ontving Harry Wu in Nederland de prestigieuze Geuzenpenning voor zijn vaak eenzame strijd tegen de Chinese autoriteiten. In "Troublemaker" vertelt Wu over zijn laatste geheime reis terug naar China en over zijn arrestatie aan de grens. Het leek of Wu dit maal voorgoed zou verdwijnen, maar na 66 spannende dagen zwichtte Peking voor de buitenlandse druk. Harry Wu vertelt met veek overtuigingskracht over zijn haast onvermoeibare inzet en drang om steeds weer terug te keren naar een land waar hij zijn leven niet zeker is. Een land waar de machthebbers hem zien als volksvijand nummer een: Troublemaker number 1.